Lighting fixture



M. W. ROSS ET AL July 19, 1938.

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March 25, 1956 fnl/922253: rice l www12 Patented July 19, 1938 PATENroFFICE g LIGHTING FIXTURE` yMaurice WiRossiiNiles Center, and Edwin D.

V1illson,Evanston, Ill.

Application March 23', 1936, Serial No; 70,276`

Claims.

`The present invention relates generally to. lighting fixtures and is more particularly .directed to certain new and improved features adapted for use inlindirect lighting fixtures, such as those ern--y 5 ploying luminous bowls.

'I'he principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved lighting fixture of the indirect type embodying a reflector carrying a luminous bowl and ashield ring, so arranged that enough diffused light emanates from the luminous bowl, and in lsuch a manner, that the bowl and the shield ring are illuminated, not only' uniformly, but also with approximatelyvthesame intensity or brightness as the ceiling uponwhich 15 most of the light from the lamp and reflector is uniformly directed. y

Another object of the present invention vis the provision of an indirectlighting fixture wherein is provided a leakage of light to a luminous bowl 2d which is so shaped that it is illuminated uniformly, and wherein the reflector is supported byy a hanger in a new and improved manner so as-to eliminate ceiling shadows.

e vStill further, another object of the present in;v 25 vention is the provision of a new and improved supporting means for an indirect lighting fixture Y in which three or more tubular supporting arms are provided, two of which actas hinges for pivotally supporting the reflector and bowl unit and,

3 in addition, are adapted to receive the conductors unit, embodying a one-piece reflector body and outwardly and upwardlyflaring shield ring for the purpose of not only receiving the lower difobservation of the .lamp from any normal viewing position.

A further object ofthe invention is the 'provi-v sion of a new and improved' support for a diffusing ring in the lower central portion of the reflector body, lightV emanating through the4 ring and through a plurality of openings formed inthe reflector body or the support for the diffusing ring central portion of the reflector unit.

Another object ofthe present invention is the provision of new and limproved supporting arms carried by and forming a part of the hanger unit,

5;5- andgin which all portions spaced :from the lamp fusing bowl but, in addition, preventing'a direct and socket which, in'effect, forms a part of the are below the angle of 'cut-off of the shield ring and in which all portions of the supporting arms above the angle of cut-off are disposed closely adjacent the lamp so that ceilingshadows are eliminated. A further object of the present invention 5'9 in this connection is the provision of a tubular enclosing member or husk surrounding the upper light socket. e

Still further,y another object of the present invention is the provision of a luminous bowl and a ltr` shield ring,` either or both` flaring upwardly and outwardly and particularly adapted for use in an indirect lighting' xture so that the under surface of the shield ring is illuminated by light from the luminous glass bowl to "substantially the same :1; intensity as the ceiling and the bowl.

A further object of thepresent inventionis the provision of a new and improved fixture provided withy two lamp sockets providing for theoptional use'of two or more different'kinds of lampsV inthe 20 same fixture. An additional object ofthe present invention in this connection is the provision of a new and improved diffusing ring and support for the same properly associated with both .of said n lampsockets, whereby the proper amount of dif- 255 fused light emanates from the fixture when any one of the two or morewkinds of lamps is used.

These ,and other objects and` advantages of the present invention Vwill be ap-parent to those skilled in the, art after a consideration of the following detailed description.4 taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred structural embodiment. n

In,` the drawingthe figure shown is a generally w vertical` transverse section. with certain `parts shownbin elevation.` y l Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the principles of the present invention have been embodied in a lighting fixture of the indirect V v type. The fixture. includes a ceiling supported d canopy I having a depending core 2 .which serves asa swivel support for the upper end of a hanger stem 3 in the form of a tubular member carrying a cast head assembly 5 at its lower end.l The memu ber 5 flares outwardly and downwardly, as at 6, 459 and then terminates in a reentrant portion 1in which the upper ends of three tubublar arms I0,

lil, and I2 are received, preferably, but not necessarily, being placed when the member 5 is cast.

The arms may,`of course, be installed after the formation of the member 5 is completed, and secured in place in anyjdesired manner, as by screw threads or the like'. The head assembly 5 carriesan upper downwardly facingsocket I6 of `porcelain or the like,` fastened, as by bolt or screw means I1, to the portion 1 of the head 5, and an insulating plate I 8 is disposed between the socket I6 and the head 5. Clips I9 are disposed over the socket screws I1 and between the plate I8 and the head 5 so as to engage the upper flange of and support in position a tubular sheath or husk 20 which surrounds the upper lamp socket I6 and which flares downwardly and outwardly, as at 2 I, following the curvature of the tubular supporting arms III, I I and I2, although this is not essential. The sheath or husk member extends downwardly an appreciable distance below the lower edge of the lamp socket I6.

The reflector unit is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 30 and includes an outwardly and upwardly flared reflector body '3|,' preferably formed of aluminum and having 'an upper reflecting surface 32. lThe central portion of the reflector body 3| is formed with a recessed central portion 33 terminating downwardly in a central opening over which is disposed a spun metal cup-shaped member`36 serving as a support for a diffusing ring 38 and a lower lamp socket 48. Preferably, the socket'and diffusing ring supporting member 36 is riveted, as at 4|, to the lower edge of the central portion of the reflector 3|. The supporting cup-shaped member 36 is provided with two shouldered sections 44 and 45, the former serving to support the diffusing ring 38, which is preferably formed of opal glass, and a number of openings 41 are punched or otherwise formed in the upper portion of the member 36 so as to provide for the escape of light. The other shoulder 45 of the member 36 serves to support the lower upwardly facing lamp socket 40, the latter being secured in place by any suitable means, such as screws 50. An adjusting ring 48, with openings 49 adapted to register with the openings 41, is disposed around the member 36 and is held in position by clips 5I or the like. By rotating the ring 48, the effective size of the light openingsA in the member 36 may be adjusted.

A luminous glass bowl 60 is mounted on the under side of the reflector 3|, preferably with its upper edges seating in a shallow groove 6I formed at the margin of the reflector body proper, and the bowl 6I] flares outwardly and downwardly and then extends inwardly along an easy curve, being provided with a decorative flange or illlet 63. The central portion of the bowl 6D is recessed, as at 64, and provided with an aperture 65 to receive the lower end of the cup-shaped socket supporting member 36, which carries a fastening screw 68. A finishing cap or decorative button 10 covers the opening 65v and has aV central opening through which the lower end of the bolt 68 projects. A cast knob 1I serves as a nutV for clamping the cap 10 and the bowl 60 in position. An upwardly and outwardly flaring section in the form of a shield ring 88is carried at the outer margin or edge of the reflector body 3| and preferably the shield ring 8|] and re'- flector 3| are formed integrally. The outer edge of the shield ring 88 terminates in a beaded or turned edge 8| disposed appreciably radially outwardly of the points wherethe bowl 6I] meets the reflector 3|, so that light escaping through the diffusing ring 38 and theV openings 41 illuminates the bowl with the same intensity as the ceiling, and by virtue kof the flare in both the shield ring and the bowl, light from the latter illuminates the shield ring so that it, too, is as bright as theceiling. Thus, there are no shadows or dark rings observable, but nevertheless the lamp is itself properly shielded. The shape of the bowl 60 is also important. From the drawing it will be seen that in section the bowl follows the candlepower distribution curve a: of an opal glass diffusing ring, so that the illumination of the bowl is uniform, regardless of the size of lamp used.

The combined reflector and bowl assembly is hingedly or pivotally supported, as a unit, on two of the supporting arms and is releasably connected with lthe other arm, so that when the latter connection is released the unit swings downwardly for cleaning and relamping. A pair of clips 83 are secured, as by bolts or rivets 84, to the outer edge of the reflector body, and are providedwith elongated openings 85 to receive the laterally outwardly directed ends of the tubular supporting arms I0 and II. The releasable connection may take any suitable form, but is preferably a third clip 86 which is made flexible and has an aperture large enough and specially formed topermit disconnection from the end of the third supporting arm I2 associated therewith, wherebywhen the flexible clip or bracket 86 is sprung out, the reflector unit is disconnected from the supporting arm I2 and may swingl downwardly about the'lower ends of the other arms I0 and II. This makes it possible to clean the bowl and install or replace the lamp.

Current is supplied to the two lamp sockets I6 and 40 by means of two conductors 9|) and 9| brought down from any suitable outlet box throughy the hanger stem 3. For the upper socket I6, branches 92 are connected between the conductors and 9| and the terminal posts 93 of the socket I6. For the lower socket, the conductors 98 and 9| are extended downwardly through the two tubular supporting arms I0 and II that act as hinges in supporting the reector and globe unit. Thus, the downward swinging of the unit in cleaning and relamping does not affect, and, in turn, is not affected by the presence of the conductors 90 and 9|. Preferably, the lower sections 90a and 9Ia of the conductors 90 and'9I are brought downwardly through suitable openings in the outer edge of the reflector body 3| adjacent the clips 83 and are secured as at 94 closely to the underside of the reflector body so as tocast no shadows on the bowl 60,

the conductors being led into connection with the lower socket 40 through openings 96 formed in the socket supporting member 36.

If desired, all of the supporting clips 83 and 86 maybe made flexible so that any one of them may be sprung out to be disengaged from the associated supporting arms and to permit lowering of theY reflector unit about the other two arms acting as pivotal supports. Also, all three of theclips may be released from the arms to detach the reflector unit.

Y An important feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the supporting arms I0, II and I2 lie closely adjacent the lamp at all points below the cut-off line y of the shield ring 80, and that the points where the. arms extend outwardly are all below the cut-off line y. Thus, the arms I8, II and I2 will not cast any shadows on the ceiling. Also, the portions of the armsthat are below the cut-off line y lie relatively close to the reflector 3| so that practically all ceiling shadows are eliminated.

As mentioned above, one of the advantages of the present invention lies in the ability to use any one of two or three different kinds of lamps. For example, a high power lamp, for instance one of the. commercially available tubular 1000 watt lamps, may be placed in the lower lamp socket in the position in-dicated by the reference numeral |00, and it is to be noted that the upper end of such a lamp is shielded by the sheath or husk member 20, the lower end of the latter being spaced laterally from the upper portion of the lamp |00 so that the sheath or husk member 20, acting in conjunction with the shield ring 80, makes it practically impossible to view the lamp |00 directly from any normal viewing' position. Instead of a tubular lamp, a 300 or 500 watt lamp may be disposed in the upper socket I6, in the position indicated at |0| and |02 in Figure l. In this case, it is to be notedthat the same sheath or husk member 20 now serves to surround the stem or neck portion of the lamp lill or |02, so as to prevent this lamp from being viewed directly from any normal viewing position. By virtue of the central recessed portion 33 of the reflector 3|, the bulb or globe part of the lamp |0| or |02 is accommodated and, at the same time, whether lamp |00, |0| or |02 is used, sufficient light passes through the diffusing ring 39 and the openings 4l to illuminate the bowl 60 with approximately the same intensity as the ceiling from which the fixture is suspended. Also, screw base or prong base sockets may be used, if desired.

While we have thus shown and described above the preferred structural embodiment in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that our inventiony is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact, different means may be employed in the practice of our invention, as deilned v in the appended claims.

What` we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A lighting fixture comprising a ceiling supported hanger carrying a plurality of downwardly and outwardly flaring arms and a downwardly facing lamp socket, an upwardly facing reflector and a shield ring supported on said arms, a tubular member supported from said hanger and surrounding said lamp socket, said member extending downwardly to substantially the level of the upper edge of said shield, and a lower lamp socket carried by said reflector, sai-d sockets providing for the optional installation of two different kinds of lamps and said tubular member cooperating with said shield in both cases to prevent viewing the lamp from any normal viewing position, said tubular member flaring outwardly at its lower portion so as to shield the adjacent portions of a lamp mounted in either of said sockets, the neck portion of the lamp being shielded in one case and the portion opposite the base of the lamp in the other case.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a hanger stem, a headat the lower end thereof, a plurality of downwardly and outwardly flaring arms supported at their upper ends in said head, a reflector carried by the lower ends of said arms and having a central opening therein, a socket supporting member having openings therein and fixed to the reflector over the opening therein, a socket supported in said member, a diffuser carried by the latter over said openings, a glass bowl enclosing said member and engaging the edge of said reflector, and means for adjusting the effective size of the openings in saidsocket supporting member.

3. A lighting xture comprising a ceiling canopy, a tubular hanger stem supported for swiveling movement in said canopy and carrying a head member at its lower end, tubular arms fastened at their upper ends to said head member and flaring outwardly downwardly and terminating in laterally directed lower ends, a reflector hung on said lower ends and having a lampreceiving central opening, a lower socket assembly supported from said reflector and including light openings and a diffusing ring associated therewith, a shield ring flaring upwardly and laterally from the edge of the reflector, and a luminous glass bowl also flaring outwardly and enclosing the lower part of the reflector and socket assembly and secured to the latter.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a hanger stem, a head at the lower end thereof, a plurality of downwardly and outwardly flaring arms supported at their upper ends in said head, a reilector carried by the lower ends of said arms and having a central opening therein, a socket supporting member having openings therein and fixed to the reflector over the opening therein, a socket supported in said member, a diffuser carried by the latter over said openings, and a glass bowl enclosing said member and disposed in a position to be illuminated substantially uniformly by light passing through said diffuser and said openings.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a hanger, tubular arms supported at the lower end thereof, a reflector having light openings in the central portion and an upper reflecting surface, means pivoting the reflector on the lower end of two of said arms, releasable means connecting the reflector to a third arm and operable when released to permit said reflector to swing downwardly about its pivotal connection with said two arms, a lamp socket carried by said reflector, conductors carried within the two tubular arms to which the reflector is pivoted and extending downwardly on the lower side of said reflector to said socket, and a diffusing bowl secured to and illuminated by the openings in said reflector and masking the portions of said conductors on the lower side of the reflector.

MAURICE W. ROSS. EDWIN D. TILLSON. 

